A Hearth Display alternative for families who already own an iPad

The Hearth Display is a big, beautiful touchscreen for the family's schedule, chores and routines. It's also a $699 screen with a monthly membership. If there's an iPad in a drawer at your house, Lifeboard can turn it into the same kind of family hub for $29.99, once.

The short version

Hearth is a 27-inch screen for $699, with a Family Membership at $9 a month after the first 30 days. Lifeboard is $29.99 once, on the iPad you already have, with no membership. Choose Hearth if you want a big wall screen the whole room can read.

Last checked October 2026. Hearth's prices and plans change, so check their site for the latest.

Lifeboard and Hearth at a glance

Lifeboard

Hearth Display

What you buy

The app, $29.99 once, with a free 14-day trial. It runs on the iPad you already have

A 27-inch Hearth Display, listed at $699

Subscription

None

Hearth Family Membership, $9 a month or $86.40 a year after a 30-day trial. The calendar and family profiles keep working without it

Cost over two years

$29.99

About $872 with the membership: the display at $699, plus two years at $86.40

Screen

Your iPad, from the iPad mini to the 13-inch iPad Pro. Stands on the counter or mounts on the fridge

27 inches, on a stand or the wall

Calendars

Everything in the iPad's Calendar app, including Google, Outlook and work calendars

Syncs with Google, Apple and Outlook calendars

Chores and rewards

Included. Chores live in Apple Reminders and earn points kids spend on rewards

Chores and routines on the display

Meals and groceries

Included. Plan dinners and the grocery list builds itself, synced to Reminders

Meal planning and lists

Photo frame

Included, from your iCloud Photos albums

Photo display

Where your data lives

In Apple's apps and your own iCloud. Lifeboard has no servers

In your Hearth account

Why families choose Lifeboard

No subscription. One $29.99 purchase, with a free 14-day trial to try it first. Rewards, meal planning, recipes and the photo frame are all included.
Nothing new to buy. Most iPads from 2019 on run Lifeboard, so the one in the drawer gets a second life.
Nothing new to learn. Add events in Calendar and chores in Reminders, on any iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch, and they show up on the counter.
Private by design. There's no Lifeboard account and no Lifeboard servers. Your family's information stays in Apple's apps and your iCloud.
Kid-proof. Guided Access, built into every iPad, keeps it in Lifeboard until a parent enters the passcode.

When Hearth might suit you better

You want a 27-inch screen the whole room can read, and don't mind paying for it.
You don't have an iPad from 2019 or later, and don't want one.
Most of your family uses Android. Lifeboard's chores, rewards and grocery list need Apple's apps.

Getting started takes about five minutes

Install Lifeboard on an iPad running iPadOS 26 or later.
Tap Allow for Calendar, Reminders, Photos and Home.
Add your kids and pick their chore lists in Reminders.
Stand it on the counter and turn on Guided Access.

The Help page walks through each step.

Questions

Is Lifeboard made by Hearth?

No. Lifeboard is an independent app and isn't affiliated with Hearth.

Do I need a subscription?

No. Lifeboard is $29.99 once, with a free 14-day trial, and there's no Lifeboard account or membership.

Can I still use Google Calendar?

Yes. Add your Google or work calendar to the iPad's Calendar app and it shows up in Lifeboard.

Which iPads work?

Any iPad that runs iPadOS 26 or later, including the iPad 8th generation (2020), iPad Air 3rd generation (2019), iPad mini 5th generation (2019) and every iPad Pro from 2018 on. See the full list.

Lifeboard launches this November. Be the first to know.

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Hearth and Hearth Display are trademarks of their owner. Lifeboard isn't affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Hearth. iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc.